By; MATTHEW UKACHUNWA, Lagos
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, has been praised by United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Nigeria for signing the state’s Child Protection Bill into Law.
The development is a victory for children in Borno, including the recognition of a legal framework for their protection against recruitment and use by armed groups, child labour and sexual abuse, among other violations of their rights, UNICEF said.
“Governor Zulum signed the Borno State Child Protection Bill into Law yesterday, marking an end to years of efforts to provide a legal framework that recognizes the rights of children in the state to education, health and protection from all forms of abuse,” UNICEF clarified in a news release issued on 11th January 2022.
According to the UN agency, with the Child Protection Bill signed into Law, Borno has become the 29th State in Nigeria to domesticate the Child Rights Act enacted by the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) in year 2013.
Seven states that have not domesticated the Act are Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Kebbi, Yobe, Kano and Zamfara, UNICEF enumerated.
In the news statement titled: “UNICEF Commends Governor Zulum for Signing Child Protection Law,” the UN organ for children’s well-being pointed out that Borno State has remained the epicentre of protracted armed conflict for more than 12 years.
UNICEF disclosed that over 300,000 children have been killed in Nigeria’s north-east, while over one million have been displaced.
It stated that in Borno State, 330,389 children are out of school, according to the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).
UNICEF stated that as with Adamawa and Yobe states, the conflict has also impacted essential health, nutrition and child protection services.
“Governor Zulum has done the right thing – and the children of Borno State are the winners. I commend Governor Zulum, the Borno State House of Assembly and other stakeholders who worked tirelessly to domesticate the Child Rights Act in Borno State,” Peter Hawkins, UNICEF representative in Nigeria, declared.
